Turnovers Hurt Captains

Two Second-half Fumbles Allow Presidents To Win

November 24, 2002|By JENNIFER L. WILLIAMS Daily Press

WASHINGTON, PA. — Football coaches sometimes get philosophical about seeing the glass as half full.

But Christopher Newport skipper Matt Kelchner was having none of the "just happy to be here" stuff after Saturday's 24-10 loss at bitter-cold Cameron Stadium. Washington and Jefferson scored off of back-to-back CNU fumbles in the second half to oust the Captains in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

"I'm very, very upset and very, very angry about what happened," said Kelchner, whose team finished 6-5 and made its second playoff appearance in as many years of existence.

"I don't like losing in any way, shape or form, and I think we had a chance to win a ballgame today that we let get away."

W&J (9-2) came in with an offense noted for its versatility and firepower.

Running back Joey Nichols gained 121 yards on 31 carries and quarterback Brian Dawson completed 20-of-33 for 204 passing yards. Seven of his completions were to wideout Mike Virgin and six to tight end Tom Paff.

The Presidents will play a second-round game next Saturday in San Antonio against Trinity (11-0), which beat Mary Hardin-Baylor 48-38 in a matchup of Texas teams.

CNU's defense kept the Captains in the game, as it has all season, and the offense was efficient before eventually breaking down.

"We had a chance out there today, we definitely had a chance," CNU quarterback Eric Carlson said. "We made some mistakes we shouldn't have and the outcome could've been different."

The Presidents scored on their opening drive on R.J. Zitzelsberger's 1-yard run, followed by a CNU drive that culminated in Jason Broskie's 21-yard field goal that made the score 7-3. After losing a fumble and then forcing CNU to go three-and-out, W&J drove from CNU's 36-yard line to the 4.

Under pressure, Dawson threw a ball high and toward the end zone. Virgin hauled it down, keeping his toes inbounds just enough for a touchdown and a 14-3 lead.

CNU added a touchdown before halftime, one play after a pass-interference penalty against W&J for banging into CNU running back Branden Jones at the 5-yard line. On the next play, Jones ran straight down the middle, then slightly to his right, diving over a defensive back and into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown.

Trailing 14-10, CNU's defense held the Presidents on their last possession of the half. From the CNU 25-yard line, Captains defensive end Jason Chandler made a tackle for a 2-yard loss and a sack on successive plays, then W&J was penalized for illegal motion.

After CNU's David Briggs successfully covered Virgin on an incomplete pass on third-and-25, W&J attempted a 47-yard field goal that fell short.

CNU's Anthony Matthews had two interceptions in the third quarter that resulted in no points for his offense. After his second pickoff, CNU began its doomed stretch. On the second play from scrimmage, Carlson's handoff to Thomas Thornton hit the ground and W&J's Rocco Nori recovered.

Set up on the Captains' 9-yard line, the Presidents quickly capitalized with Luke Ravenstahl's 21-yard field goal that made the score 17-10. On CNU's next offensive play, Carlson ran up the middle. The ball was knocked loose and was smothered by W&J linebacker Eric Field.

"The one where I handed the ball to Thomas, one of their D-tackles had slanted in and knocked the ball out of his hand," Carlson said. "Then the one I had, I just lost control of it. One of their players knocked it out of my hand; it was my fault."

Five plays later, Nichols scored on a 4-yard run to extend the lead to 24-10. Then CNU mounted a lengthy drive that culminated in cornerback Ben Hays' interception with 8:24 left in the game.

W&J had possession the rest of the game, running the ball and killing time.

"We shut them out second half and that was critical, especially on that opening drive," W&J coach John Banaszak said.

Jennifer L. Williams can be reached at 247-4644 or by e-mail at jwilliams@dailypress.com